Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026

Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures
Published on: November 11, 2016
Transforming growth factor-beta inhibits the expression of clock genes
Heidemarie Gast1, Sonja Gordic, Saskia Petrzilka
1Department of Neurology, Inselspital, University Hospital Berne, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Disturbances of sleep-wake rhythms are an important problem in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Circadian rhythms are regulated by clock genes. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is overexpressed in neurons in AD and is the only cytokine that is increased in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Our data show that TGF-β2 inhibits the expression of the clock genes Period (Per)1, Per2, and Rev-erbα, and of the clock-controlled genes D-site albumin promoter binding protein (Dbp) and thyrotroph embryonic factor (Tef). However, our results showed that TGF-β2 did not alter the expression of brain and muscle Arnt-like protein-1 (Bmal1). The concentrations of TGF-β2 in the CSF of 2 of 16 AD patients and of 1 of 7 patients with mild cognitive impairment were in the dose range required to suppress the expression of clock genes. TGF-β2-induced dysregulation of clock genes may alter neuronal pathways, which may be causally related to abnormal sleep-wake rhythms in AD patients.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation
Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation
TGF - β Signaling Pathway
Negative Regulator Molecules
Eukaryotic Transcription Inhibitors
Eukaryotic transcription inhibitors usually contain two distinct domains, a DNA...
Biological Clocks and Seasonal Responses

